Auckland and Canterbury have played out a tame draw on day four of their Plunket Shield match in Rangiora today.
With both Northern and Central Districts having wrapped up second round wins within three days, the Aces-Wizards clash was the only cricket action of the day, though calling it action would perhaps be kind.
Canterbury resumed on their overnight score of 178-5, holding a comfortable lead of 288, and proceeded to set Auckland a nearly impossible chase. With opener George Worker unbeaten on 120, Canterbury captain Peter Fulton declared at 243-9, leaving Auckland needing 354 from 72 overs.
The Aces did not appear too interested in chasing the outright victory and, once Black Caps opener Martin Guptil was dismissed for 27 from 30 balls, the match looked headed for a draw.
Canterbury's bowlers tried to inject some excitement into the afternoon's play by taking three Auckland wickets in the space of eight runs, but first innings centurion Colin de Grandhomme (43*) and captain Gareth Hopkins (63*) ensured the sides would share the spoils with an unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 104.
By the time the captains decided to call it quits, the Aces were still 158 runs short of their target on 196-4.
Auckland took five first innings bonus points to move to second behind Northern Districts on the Plunket Shield table, while Canterbury's eight bonus points were not enough to move them out of fifth place.
Scoreboard from day four of the Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Canterbury at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora:
Canterbury
First innings 491-7 dec
Auckland
First innings 381
Canterbury
Second innings (overnight 178-5)
R Nicol c Singh b Mills 3; G Worker not out 120; P Fulton c de Boorder b Bates 35; S Stewart c Hopkins b Singh 28; D Brownlie c Martin b Martin 29; R Young b Martin 1; A Ellis c Hopkins b Martin 11; T Astle run out (de Boorder) 4; R McCone c McIntosh b Martin 0; W Lonsdale c McIntosh b Singh 1; S George not out 2; Extras (4lb, 5nb) 9. Total (for 9 wickets dec, 81.0 overs) 243
Fall: 3 (Nicol), 80 (Fulton), 141 (Stewart), 172 (Brownlie), 178 (Young), 198 (Ellis), 211 (Astle), 212 (McCone), 226 (Lonsdale).
Bowling: C Martin 17-3-37-2 (1nb), K Mills 6-3-10-1, B Singh 26-5-94-2, M Bates 8-1-20-1, B Martin 21-3-72-2 (3nb), M Guptill 3-0-6-0 (1nb).
Auckland
Second innings
T McIntosh c Young b George 27; M Guptill c Brownlie b Ellis 27; A de Boorder c Brownlie b McCone 25; A Kitchen c Stewart b McCone 1; C de Grandhomme not out 43; G Hopkins not out 63. Extras (6b, 1wd, 3nb) 10. Total (for 4 wickets, 57.0 overs) 196
Fall: 36 (Guptill), 84 (McIntosh), 85 (Kitchen), 92 (de Boorder).
Bowling: W Lonsdale 13-2-52-0 (1wd), S George 10-0-46-1 (1nb) , A Ellis 12-1-27-1 (2nb), R McCone 12-2-35-2, T Astle 10-3-30-0.
Result: Match drawn.
